Bulldogs Beyond Is Back!!!
Author: Jill Flynn
Bulldogs Beyond is Back!!!
Jill Flynn
Our group of 20 students and 6 chaperones spent 6 days on an educational trip, and we had a marvelous time in Rome and Athens.
The tour itself was definitely a trip of a lifetime for all the travelers. We hit the ground running upon arrival in Rome, with a tour of the Catacombs and a walking tour in downtown Rome, where we walked the famous Spanish Steps and threw coins in the Fountain of Trevi, wishing for a return to Rome someday :) The next day, we traveled to Pompeii and toured the ruins of the city that was devastated by Mount Vesuvius 2000 years ago. It was fascinating to see the technology of the civilization there. “Being able to walk on the ancient cobblestone streets and see how huge the place was…still amazes me…” one student noted. We returned to a 4-course Italian meal at our motel. Day 3 was a marathon tour of the city of Rome. We started with a walking tour of the old Roman Forum, followed by a tour of the Colosseum. It was amazing to consider the structure still stands after all these years… and that it was built over a span of only 8 years without modern machinery. Everyone was able to shop around the Piazza San Pietro and find their own choices for lunch, followed by a visit to the Basilica of St. Peter, which many of the students noted was the highlight of the trip, “an out-of-this-world experience” and “incomparable to any pictures I’ve ever seen”. It is truly breathtaking! Following that, we toured the Vatican Museum and visited a local restaurant for traditional Italian food. Of course, every day, we tried to eat as much gelato as we could.
Day four was our transfer day to Greece, but before we flew out, we toured Ostia, a small seaside resort that was once the Roman port on the Tiber River. Some of the crew swam in the sea, while others shopped and chose a variety of spots for lunch. After a short flight to Athens, we checked into our fabulous hotel, which overlooked its own beach on the Mediterranean. The kids wasted no time getting into the water and swam until after dark. Up early the next morning, we toured Athens in the 100 + heat and viewed the remarkable Acropolis area and the Parthenon. The ruins and the accompanying museum gave us an opportunity to get right up close to some of the most famous antiquities in the world. A traditional Greek meal followed, and the kids hit the beach again in the evening. Our final day featured a trip to Delphi, the site once considered the center of the world by the ancient Greeks. We traveled up into the mountains of Greece and almost felt like we were back in Montana… except for the heat and humidity. The ruins of Delphi and the associated museum were also a highlight for many. We returned to our motel for a buffet dinner and one final swim in the sea.
Our trip home was an adventure, as our flight got delayed so we had to switch to another airline, sit in the airport for 8 hours, fly for 11 hours to New York and then circle in a holding pattern for an hour, sleep for 4 hours in a motel, and then rise early for a 10-hour return to Montana. While not anyone’s highlight, it was still another good learning experience about how to cope with travel adversity and navigate the landscape of international travel. The students were troopers and managed to keep smiles on their faces in spite of all challenges.
Among many lessons learned were trying new foods, experiencing the hustle and press of crowds in major urban areas, realizing the sheer magnitude of history in European countries where civilizations are measured in thousands of years, as opposed to hundreds in the US, negotiating two new languages, understanding different cultures, meeting new people from the Missouri group that traveled with us, and bonding with other Townsend students and chaperones. As one student noted, “I am so thankful I had this opportunity to experience new foods, cultures, landscapes and people.” The whole experience made many hungry for more travel in their futures but also highlighted an appreciation for the vastness and peacefulness of Montana.
We are all so appreciative of the part so many played in making this opportunity possible. In particular, Broadwater Community Foundation and Townsend Booster Club made significant donations. However, we also want to thank all the local businesses that supported our Donkey Basketball fundraiser, the parents who supported our efforts, and the entire Townsend community, who contributed to fundraisers, bought concessions at ball games, donated tips to the trip, and helped in a variety of ways. One traveler summarized our feelings well, relating, “Thank you to all that made this such a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I am looking forward to the next one”.
We are already planning our next Bulldogs Beyond trip in 2026!
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Image 1 Caption: Students at Delphi in Greece: Emily Bird, Havyn Vandenacre, Luci Horne, Reese Wolfgram, Riley Rauser, Nolan Flynn, Ross MacDonald, Scarlett McDaniel, Grace Kroeger, Anna Beatty, Carsyn O'Dell, Logan Barkhurst, Haylie Reinke, Kenzie Knaub, Aspen Slyker, Emmalin Fischer, Harper Wolfgram, Addi Kraft, Kaitlyn Noyes, and Kaelyn Sangray.
Photo Contributed by Jill Flynn
Image 2 Caption: Students at the Colosseum in Rome: Emily Bird, Havyn Vandenacre, Luci Horne, Reese Wolfgram, Riley Rauser, Nolan Flynn, Ross MacDonald, Scarlett McDaniel, Grace Kroeger, Anna Beatty, Carsyn O'Dell, Logan Barkhurst, Haylie Reinke, Kenzie Knaub, Aspen Slyker, Emmalin Fischer, Harper Wolfgram, Addi Kraft, Kaitlyn Noyes, and Kaelyn Sangray.
Photo Contributed by Jill Flynn
Image 3 Caption: Chaperones at the Colosseum in Rome: Jill Flynn, Allie Lampman, Joe Horne, Sheri Heavrin, Kallie Audet, Siobhan Flynn
Photo Contributed by Jill Flynn
